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Do patents really foster innovation in the pharmaceutical sector? Results from an evolutionary, agent-based model

Author

Listed:
  • Giovanni Dosi

    (Institute of Economics of Sant'Anna [Pisa] - SSSUP - Scuola Universitaria Superiore Sant'Anna = Sant'Anna School of Advanced Studies [Pisa])

  • Elisa Palagi

    (Institute of Economics of Sant'Anna [Pisa] - SSSUP - Scuola Universitaria Superiore Sant'Anna = Sant'Anna School of Advanced Studies [Pisa])

  • Andrea Roventini

    (OFCE - Observatoire français des conjonctures économiques (Sciences Po) - Sciences Po - Sciences Po, Institute of Economics of Sant'Anna [Pisa] - SSSUP - Scuola Universitaria Superiore Sant'Anna = Sant'Anna School of Advanced Studies [Pisa])

  • Emanuele Russo

    (Institute of Economics of Sant'Anna [Pisa] - SSSUP - Scuola Universitaria Superiore Sant'Anna = Sant'Anna School of Advanced Studies [Pisa])

Abstract

The role of the patent system in the pharmaceutical sector is highly debated also due to its strong public health implications. In this paper we develop an evolutionary, agent-based model of the pharmaceutical industry to explore the impact of different configurations of the patent system upon innovation and competition. The model is able to replicate the main stylized facts of the drug industry as emergent properties. We perform policy experiments to assess the impact of different IPR regimes changing the breadth and length of patents. Results suggest that enlarging the extent and duration of patents yields adverse effects in terms of innovation outcomes, as well as of market competition and consumer welfare. Such general conclusions hold even if one takes into account the possible positive effects on R&D intensity and information disclosure triggered by patents.

Suggested Citation

  • Giovanni Dosi & Elisa Palagi & Andrea Roventini & Emanuele Russo, 2021. "Do patents really foster innovation in the pharmaceutical sector? Results from an evolutionary, agent-based model," Working Papers hal-04114900, HAL.
    • Handle: RePEc:hal:wpaper:hal-04114900
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    Cited by:

    1. Noda, Hideo & Fang, Fengqi, 2025. "Pro-Patent Policy in the Knowledge-Based Economy," MPRA Paper 125646, University Library of Munich, Germany.
    2. Szymon Chudziak, 2025. "Studying economic complexity with agent-based models: advances, challenges and future perspectives," Journal of Economic Interaction and Coordination, Springer;Society for Economic Science with Heterogeneous Interacting Agents, vol. 20(2), pages 413-449, April.
    3. Arianna Martinelli & Alessandro Nuvolari & Elisa Palagi & Emanuele Russo, 2022. "Digitalization, copyright and innovation in the creative industries: an agent-based model," LEM Papers Series 2022/03, Laboratory of Economics and Management (LEM), Sant'Anna School of Advanced Studies, Pisa, Italy.
    4. Patrick Mellacher, 2021. "Growth, Inequality and Declining Business Dynamism in a Unified Schumpeter Mark I + II Model," Papers 2111.09407, arXiv.org, revised Nov 2023.
    5. Ponta, Linda & Puliga, Gloria & Manzini, Raffaella & Cincotti, Silvano, 2024. "Reacting and recovering after an innovation failure. An agent-based approach," Technovation, Elsevier, vol. 129(C).

    More about this item

    Keywords

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    JEL classification:

    • L10 - Industrial Organization - - Market Structure, Firm Strategy, and Market Performance - - - General
    • L65 - Industrial Organization - - Industry Studies: Manufacturing - - - Chemicals; Rubber; Drugs; Biotechnology; Plastics
    • O30 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Innovation; Research and Development; Technological Change; Intellectual Property Rights - - - General
    • O34 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Innovation; Research and Development; Technological Change; Intellectual Property Rights - - - Intellectual Property and Intellectual Capital
    • C63 - Mathematical and Quantitative Methods - - Mathematical Methods; Programming Models; Mathematical and Simulation Modeling - - - Computational Techniques

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